Crafty, I hand quilt... I have done one, a t-shirt quilt by machine.... I love to hand quilt, it is very relaxing, I love the repetition....I have a custom thimble, a gift to myself, that I love... I yes I have stuck the dickens out of myself...I may try the leather thingie....
As for hoops, I used to use them all the time and also the floor stand one... The floor one becomes awkward if you are turning the design. I only bend so many directions. Then I tried just a large hoop, that's ok. I am currently working on a baby quilt, a single piece top, cartoon dinasaurs, which I am quilting around the characters and scenery, and it is just too many turns to put in a hoop, also gets difficult around the edges... so I tried it with no hoop..... Works quite well, think you have to make sure you have basted or pinned well to keep everything flat....I may leave the hoop off for good!
Ellen